Canon 700D vs Nikon D3200

The Canon EOS 700D (called Canon T5i in some regions) and the Nikon D3200 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively,
in March 2013 and April 2012. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 17.9 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 24.1 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their sensors, their features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Canon 700D vs Nikon D3200

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 700D and the Nikon D3200. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Nikon D3200 is notably smaller (10 percent) than the Canon 700D. Moreover, the D3200 is markedly lighter (13 percent) than the 700D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 700D nor the D3200 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. Yet, since both cameras are based around an APS-C sensor, their respective lenses will tend to have similar dimensions and heft.
You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (700D) and the Nikon Lens Catalog (D3200).

Concerning battery life, the 700D gets 440 shots out of its LP-E8 battery,
while the D3200 can take 540 images on a single charge of its EN-EL14 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left
arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to
select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The D3200 was somewhat cheaper (by 8 percent) than the 700D at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Canon 700D vs Nikon D3200

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors
differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the D3200 is 8 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have format factors, respectively, of 1.6 (700D) and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

In terms of underlying technology, both cameras are build around CMOS sensors.

With 24.1MP, the D3200 offers a higher
resolution than the 700D (17.9MP), but the D3200 has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of
3.85μm versus 4.31μm for the 700D). It is noteworthy in this context that the 700D is a somewhat more recent model (by 11 months) than the D3200, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The 700D has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during video recording.

The Canon EOS 700D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D3200 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-12800..

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the D3200 offers substantially better image quality than the 700D (overall score 20 points higher). The advantage is based on 2.4 bits higher color depth, 2 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.7 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Canon 700D»

APS-C

17.9

5184

3456

1080/30p

21.7

11.2

681

61

Canon 700D

Nikon D3200«

APS-C

24.1

6016

4000

1080/30p

24.1

13.2

1131

81

Nikon D3200

Canon 750D«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

22.7

12.0

919

71

Canon 750D

Canon 7D II«»

APS-C

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

22.4

11.8

1082

70

Canon 7D II

Canon 1200D«»

APS-C

17.9

5184

3456

1080/30p

21.9

11.3

724

63

Canon 1200D

Canon G7 X«»

1-inch

20.0

5472

3648

1080/60p

23.0

12.7

556

71

Canon G7 X

Canon 100D«»

APS-C

17.9

5184

3456

1080/30p

21.8

11.3

843

63

Canon 100D

Canon 650D«»

APS-C

17.9

5184

3456

1080/30p

21.7

11.2

722

62

Canon 650D

Canon M«»

APS-C

17.9

5184

3456

1080/30p

22.1

11.2

827

65

Canon M

Canon 600D«»

APS-C

17.9

5184

3456

1080/30p

22.1

11.5

793

65

Canon 600D

Canon 550D«»

APS-C

17.9

5184

3456

1080/30p

22.1

11.5

784

66

Canon 550D

Canon 500D«»

APS-C

15.1

4752

3168

1080/20p

21.7

11.5

663

63

Canon 500D

Nikon D5600«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

24.1

14.0

1306

84

Nikon D5600

Nikon D3400«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

24.8

13.9

1192

86

Nikon D3400

Nikon D3300«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

24.3

12.8

1385

82

Nikon D3300

Nikon D5300«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

24.0

13.9

1338

83

Nikon D5300

Nikon D3100«»

APS-C

14.2

4608

3072

1080/24p

22.5

11.3

919

67

Nikon D3100

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/30p).

Feature comparison: Canon 700D vs Nikon D3200

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The 700D and the D3200 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder.
The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 700D and Nikon D3200 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Shutter speed (1/sec)

Shutter flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Canon 700D»

optical

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

4000

5.0

Y

n

Canon 700D

Nikon D3200«

optical

n

3.0

921

fixed

n

4000

4.0

Y

n

Nikon D3200

Canon 750D«»

optical

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

4000

5.0

Y

n

Canon 750D

Canon 7D II«»

optical

Y

3.0

1040

fixed

n

8000

10.0

Y

n

Canon 7D II

Canon 1200D«»

optical

n

3.0

460

fixed

n

4000

3.0

Y

n

Canon 1200D

Canon G7 X«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

2000

6.5

Y

Y

Canon G7 X

Canon 100D«»

optical

n

3.0

1040

fixed

Y

4000

4.9

Y

n

Canon 100D

Canon 650D«»

optical

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

4000

5.0

Y

n

Canon 650D

Canon M«»

-

n

3.0

1040

fixed

Y

4000

4.3

n

n

Canon M

Canon 600D«»

optical

n

3.0

1040

swivel

n

4000

3.7

Y

n

Canon 600D

Canon 550D«»

optical

n

3.0

1040

fixed

n

4000

3.7

Y

n

Canon 550D

Canon 500D«»

optical

n

3.0

920

fixed

n

4000

3.4

Y

n

Canon 500D

Nikon D5600«»

optical

n

3.2

1037

swivel

Y

4000

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D5600

Nikon D3400«»

optical

n

3.0

921

fixed

n

4000

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D3400

Nikon D3300«»

optical

n

3.0

921

fixed

n

4000

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D3300

Nikon D5300«»

optical

n

3.2

1037

swivel

n

4000

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D5300

Nikon D3100«»

optical

n

3.0

230

fixed

n

4000

3.0

Y

n

Nikon D3100

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The 700D
has a touchscreen, while the D3200 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example,
for setting the focus point.

The 700D has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by
vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the D3200 does not have a selfie-screen.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the 700D and the D3200 write their files to SDXC cards.

Connectivity comparison: Canon 700D vs Nikon D3200

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 700D and Nikon D3200 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Canon 700D»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 700D

Nikon D3200«

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Nikon D3200

Canon 750D«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon 750D

Canon 7D II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Canon 7D II

Canon 1200D«»

Y

mono

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 1200D

Canon G7 X«»

-

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon G7 X

Canon 100D«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 100D

Canon 650D«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 650D

Canon M«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon M

Canon 600D«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 600D

Canon 550D«»

Y

stereo

-

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 550D

Canon 500D«»

Y

mono

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 500D

Nikon D5600«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Nikon D5600

Nikon D3400«»

Y

mono

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

Y

Nikon D3400

Nikon D3300«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Nikon D3300

Nikon D5300«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

-

Nikon D5300

Nikon D3100«»

Y

mono

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Nikon D3100

Both the 700D and the D3200 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used
on eBay. The D3200 was replaced by the Nikon D3300, while the 700D was followed by the Canon 750D.

Review summary: Canon 700D vs Nikon D3200

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 700D and the Nikon D3200? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 75g or 13 percent) and is thus easier to take along.

Longer lasting: Gets more shots (540 versus 440) out of a single battery charge.

More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in April 2012).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the D3200 comes out slightly ahead of the 700D (8 : 7 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera.

700D 07:08 D3200

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the 700D and the D3200 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews: Canon 700D vs Nikon D3200

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall rankings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). You can find the full text of the reviews by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

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